Upfront Week 2010: The Answers and More

Before the start of the Upfront event week, we posed some questions about the fall programming strategies of each broadcast network. Here's how our questions were answered, if at all.

ABC
1) Can this network get its drama mojo back, especially at 10 p.m.?
They'll try with four procedural hours with twists (Detroit1-8-7, The Whole Truth, Body of Proof, Off The Map), and two genre-expanding or breaking projects (No Ordinary Family, My Generation). In one of the more intriguing fall season moves by any broadcast network, ABC will let the latter two hours lead off nights--No Ordinary Family Tuesdays; My Generation Thursdays. Detroit 1-8-7and The Whole Truth will be the new 10 p.m. drama entries. Keep an eye on My Generation--by far the most unique series to hit broadcast this fall.

2) Will the two-hour "Comedy Wednesday" hold up in a second season?
Depends on how well sophomore The Middledoes leading off that block at 8 p.m., instead of going second at 8:30 p.m. After-event buzz was positive on Better Together, the block's new entry. Another factor: will Cougar Town stop slipping in season two, whether the show's title stays put or not? Ratings over the last month aren't kind here.

CBS
1) Time to break up that CSI threesome?
If not right away, close. More than one CBS programmer got the hint it was time to do something, with CSI: Miami ratings in free-fall Monday nights and CSI: NY neck-and-neck with a resurgent Law & Order: Special Victims UnitWednesdays over the last few weeks. So Miami moves to Sunday nights at 10; NY one hour earlier Friday nights at 9 p.m. This franchise's mothership stays put Thursday's. Bottom line: continued ratings fall-off will probably mean we go to two or even one CSI next Upfront spring.

2) How do you solve a problem like Sunday nights after 9?
Take Undercover Boss, your big new success of this season in any genre, and slot it right after The Amazing Race at 9 p.m., then bring CSI: Miamiin at 10. We're going to find out whetherBoss, eye-opening as well as inspiring in its focus on the corporate world, is a multi-season wonder. What some are wondering: how much longer can you disguise company CEOs as low-level employees as more people watch the program?

FOX
1) Comedy, comedy, wherefore art thou live-action comedy?
Tuesdays from 9-10 p.m., with new entries Raising Hopeand Running Wilde. Both have quirky sitcom creators behind them (Greg Garcia for Hope; the Russo brothers for Wilde), so they have a fair shot of being sampled. And they have the ever-growing phenom known as Glee in front of them at 8 p.m. Incidentally, it's time for people to stop calling Glee a comedy. It's a musical drama or dramedy, if you want to categorize properly. Actually, the more you watch Glee, the more you want not to categorize it, especially after winning the Peabody Award with just one season under the belt.

2) How will The X-Factor do?
We can't say because Fox didn't say a peep about their big 2011 project at their Upfront event or their press conference beforehand. Not even a hint about it, Fox?

NBC
1) Will the network finally break its habit of not giving shows deserving of a hook the hook?
They went more than halfway. To advocates of habit-breaking, they hooked out Heroes and Law & Order (going back on a declaration of NBC programmers not to be the ones denying L&O, aka "Mothership", a record-breaking 21st season of drama), and pushedParks & Recreation back to January or later. However, Chuck returns, perhaps the most puzzling call of any broadcast network last week. Why is a show that didn't prove itself over the last three years--and was fourth in its Monday 8 p.m. time period last week with a 3.5 rating/5 share of audience--coming back to anchor a night with two new hour dramas behind it? Your guess is as good as anyone's.

2) Last licks for The Office and 30 Rock?
In The Office's case, not necessarily if Steve Carrell takes a hike after this season, NBC executives note. The show's producers already have contingency plans in mind. As for 30 Rock, moving up one hour from currently, maybe. All up to how Tina Fey and gang deliver.

THE CW
1) Is this the end of Aaron Spelling-derived remakes?
In one word: NOOOOOOO! For another decision of the puzzling kind, 90210returns for season three. On the flip side of remake city, the network will premiere Nikita, a new version of USA Network's much-admired La Femme Nikita (and the popular movie). Maggie Q takes over the role from Peta Wilson, and from the clips offered at CW's event, the producers did their homework and appear willing to keep the haunting, enigmatic tone that made USA's series one of the best 1990s series anywhere. And credit CW for casting Maggie Q, the first Asian-American female headlining--and that's the point,headlining--her own TV drama in a very long time, if not ever. P.S. Q was the audience fave at CW's event with her off-the-cuff thoughts and sparkle.

2) Does Life Unexpected get a second season?
Yes--bravo for that decision. Let's hope more of America discovers this quiet, and trailblazing, family drama in the season ahead. (Side note to all the broadcast networks: kudos for a huge leap in on-camera diversity with drama series this go-round, from Maggie Q inNikitato NBC's Undercovers and Outsourced.)

AND FOR ALL THE BROADCAST NETWORKS...
Is Friday the new dead zone for broadcast TV?
Not in their eyes this fall, and this fall could be the last shot for ambitious first-run series on this night if things don't improve. At least you can't accuse these networks of running away without a fight. Witness Body of Proofwith Dana Delany on ABC, Outlaw with Jimmy Smits on NBC, and Human Targetand The Good Guyson Fox. Look out as well for two reality newbies that could surprise--School Pride from NBC and Secret Millionaire on ABC.

AND FINALLY--
Will Google go public with its interactive TV plans?
Sure did, an hour or so after Google wrapped up its Madison Square Garden fest. There's a lot to digest about what Google is doing here, shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Intel, Sony, Logitech, Best Buy, Adobe, Dish Network and the people behind those 50,000 Android applications up and running. The important bottom lines: Google TV is an interactive TV platform workable with set-top boxes that connect with a cable or satellite box, as well as with various TV set models. That's why Dish can offer this platform this fall to its millions of customers, and why the rest of the multi-channel distribution universe, from Comcast to U-verse, better pay attention. And because the platform is open source, anyone from an IPod application developer to a Web site, a virtual world to an augmented reality or video telephony provider, can ultimately get their work to millions of TV sets in one shot. Not to mention all the content or application creators Google will send developer kits to for triggering some imaginative TV. That's why all of us, no matter what standing you have in the TV or advertising field, should pay attention.